Sound update, for firmware

In recent months, I have been getting into electronic music and more particularly the "modular synthesizer". These are lots of devices that are networked with jack cables. There are hundreds of modules for any purpose: effects, oscillators, mixers, etc. Connected end to end, adjusted, we create music.

However, certain electronic devices can sometimes be updated to offer very interesting new features. One of my devices that I can upgrade is a "Pixie" from "After Later Audio" (a clone of the "Plaits" oscillator from "Mutable Instruments"). But one thing struck me: the device has no SD card or USB port. So how to update it? The answer was revealed to me in the manual!

In fact, the firmware update is done by sound! Yes, you read correctly ! Simply connect the headphone output of your smartphone or computer to the device to be updated, then play a specific audio file. In my case, after just three minutes of somewhat unlistenable audio, the module was updated and ready to use.

This method perplexed me at first. But it functions as a kind of audio QR code, allowing the transfer of digital data to a device. It reminded me of the visual updates you can see in the Netflix series “Time Travelers”: a screen placed in front of the eyes to reset a program.

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04/03/2024